Talented,
creative and charismatic, Joneeba Mouflet's story is an inspiring
one. He has come a long way from his impoverished childhood in
Martinique, his days without food in Africa, and his nights sleeping
on the New York City subway to his current success, never allowing
financial barriers to stop him from following his dreams.
Joneeba
was born in Martinique, and then he spent many of his childhood
years in Senegal, Mali, and Guinea, West Africa, where he trained
with renowned masters of West African drumming and dance in
small villages, as well as in performing arts schools and companies.
Years later, his unique talent won him a scholarship and sponsorship
by the Dance Theater of Harlem inviting him to come to the United
States. Through his extensive experience in African, Ballet,
Jazz and Modern dance, as well in music and acting, he is now
a much sought-after teacher, performer, choreographer and composer.
He has taught and performed in venues ranging from Disneyworld
and Busch Gardens to concert halls across Europe, Africa, the
Caribbean, South America, Canada and Japan. He has choreographed,
danced, and played music with Spike Lee, Chaka Khan, Will Calhoun,
Al Corley, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Lindsay Wagner, Olatundji
and many others.
Over
the last eighteen years, Joneeba has created and perfected an
amazing blend of floor exercises, yoga and African dance –
performed to the captivating power of drum rhythms – that
has become one complete fitness program called Joneeba™.
This technique exercises both mind and body, and also feeds
the spirit. Devotees have followed him for eighteen years from
one studio to another and for the past twelve years to his own
very popular and award winning Djoniba Dance & Drum Centre
in New York City. He has achieved guru-like status among the
thousands of individuals who have studied with him worldwide
and the many who currently crowd into the Djoniba Dance and
Drum Centre each week. His students have included Julia Roberts,
Brooke Shields, and Roshumba, as well as Iman and Montel Williams’s
children. “Just because they lack funds, children should
not be deprived of the power, self-discipline and joy that dancing,
drumming, sports, and the arts provide,” says Joneeba
Mouflet, who is tireless in his work as a humanitarian. He has
taught thousands of children from low-income families to dance
and drum for free and started a not-for-profit children’s
program 12 years ago, committed to inspiring young people and
helping them gain discipline, confidence, and success in life.
Joneeba’s
teaching of African Dance to adults and children has profound
results: one’s body finds freedom in the power of rhythm.
Now with his DVD, he is bringing the uplifting rhythmic movements
of Africa and the joy of Joneeba™ to millions.